Southwest Airlines Media Baggage Policy
Southwest Airlines doesn’t offer a traditional flat “media rate” like some legacy carriers—but for the right crew, their policy can still be extremely valuable.
Instead of discounted bag pricing, Southwest waives oversize and overweight fees for qualified media equipment, which can lead to major savings when traveling with heavier or bulkier gear.
Who Qualifies
Southwest’s media baggage considerations apply to:
- Representatives of television broadcasting companies (network or local)
- Commercial film production companies
Equipment must be clearly identifiable as media gear (camera, lighting, audio, etc.).
Media Equipment Pricing
- Standard checked bag fees apply
- First 2 bags: typically included (Southwest standard policy)
- 3rd bag and beyond: $75 per item
Key Advantages
- Oversize fees (up to 110") → Waived
- Overweight fees (up to 100 lbs.) → Waived
This is where Southwest stands out—most airlines charge heavily once you cross 50 lbs. or standard size limits, but Southwest allows much larger and heavier media cases without penalty.
Equipment Limits
- Maximum size: 110 inches (L + W + H combined)
- Maximum weight: 100 lbs per item
Important Notes
- All equipment is still subject to checked baggage allowances
- Additional bags beyond the included allowance will incur standard fees
- As always, final acceptance is at the discretion of the service counter agent
Why It Matters
For crews traveling with heavier kits (lighting, grip, cases, stands), Southwest can actually outperform “media rate” airlines. While you won’t get discounted bag pricing, avoiding overweight and oversize penalties can result in significant cost savings—especially on larger productions.
